For those who want to get away from civilization for a weekend, but still want the comforts of home, consider renting a cabin for your Johns Island camping trip. Finding a place to cabin camp in South Carolina is easier than ever. Each cabin rental offers quick access to one or more of Johns Island's most popular destinations.
Enjoy the natural beauty of James Island County Park, with year-round fun for the entire family. Just a short drive from downtown Charleston, the 643-acre park offers an abundance of exceptional recreation offerings and natural beauty.
With the Campground and Cottages at James Island County Park, it has never been more convenient to explore historic Charleston and the Lowcountry. Come discover our history, charm, fine dining, antiques, plantations, parks, and sandy beaches. Just minutes from all of these attractions is your private retreat within the 643-acre James Island County Park.
$35 - $70 / night
For overnight accommodations, furnished cabins sit nestled in the woods for rent, as well as campsites which can be found along the Edisto Island oceanfront or in the shaded maritime forest. Wifi is also available in select areas, as well as bathrooms, showers, and electrical hookups in most campsites. In fact, 120 sites can accommodate RVs or tents, with 115 sites offering 50 amp electrical service.
You'll know this campground is special the minute you drive through the entrance. Azaleas, oaks and loblolly pines give a signature touch to its Lowcountry charm. Nearby, the historic Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place feature beautiful gardens. Beat the summer heat at Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark (located within North Charleston Wannamaker County Park). Attractions abound in lovely Charleston, where horse-drawn carriages clip-clop along the historic harbor. Tour Fort Sumter National Monument, where the Civil War began, and the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. Watch the skies for military/commercial planes - you might spot a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter. Bring a group - the campground has a great recreation building with a full kitchen and meeting facilities. An exciting addition is the family lodge - a fun home-away-from-home that sleeps up to eight people. Pool: March 15 - October 15. Max pull thru: 70 feet.
A paddler’s paradise, this Lowcountry park sits a short distance from I-95 and connects to Givhans Ferry State Park via 23 miles of blackwater river. Colleton State Park provides easy access to the Edisto River, one of the longest free flowing, blackwater rivers in the country, and serves as the headquarters for the Edisto River canoe and kayak trail. Other amenities at Colleton include an easy nature trail, a campground, picnic shelters and ballfields. Camping Information: The main roads at the park and in the campground are paved. Each site is packed sand and includes individual water, 20/30/50 amp electrical hookups and sewer. Some sites accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, other sites up to 25 feet. The campground is convenient to restrooms with hot showers. There is Wi-fi access near the bathhouse that covers most the campground.
$25 - $45 / night
Short Stay Recreational Area offers a beautiful recreation area with year round outdoor activities and recreational lodging. Sitting on fifty five acres, Short Stay offers wonderful views of Lake Moultrie where camping, fishing and a beach offer plenty for the family or group outing. Open to Active Duty Personnel, Retired Military, DOD Civilians and their dependents, this Recreational Area is a great one-day play day or a week long retreat!
$21 - $630 / night
Ranger
We stayed in the camping cabins and loved them! The bathroom was super clean, the sites were very nice and the waterway and amenities were really awesome! Lots of places close by to eat at but this feels so tucked away all at the same time.
LegendLocated only 15 minutes from downtown Charleston and 10 minutes from Shem creek this campground is gorgeous and spacious. They offer kayak and bike rentals. There’s a beautiful lake that allows catch and release fishing. Some tent sites and cabin sites are right along the water and offer nice views. There’s a one mile loop trail through the woods and along the lake. There are waste bags scattered throughout the park and a huge dog park. (But it’s quite far from the campers) There are multiple playgrounds and many kid friendly activities to do including corn horn and other games. The price is more expensive than we’d like to pay, especially for a site with only water and electric. No dump station. The bathrooms are clean and accessible to wheelchair bound guests. The store has everything you may have forgotten! Overall our stay was great!
Guide
We stayed in the Cabin which was great with a baby! AC kept us cool in the heat of the summer but we were still close to our friends in tents and campers... nice tree coverage and close (quick drive) to the Edisto river/beach. Where you can raft or hang out at the beach.
Right by the cabin is a walk down to the river for fishing. Don’t recommend swimming here! undertow could be dangerous... there’s a path to the water on the other side of the camp where we set up to fish also but lost a lot of lures in the brush. Kids had a blast anyway!
Legend
You’ll find this particular destination tucked away in one of the crevasses of Lake Marion, just off Rt. 6 and a stone’s throw from Indian Bluff Recreation Area, which is a gem to go hiking around and finding a nice spot to cast a line into the water for a slow day of fishing.
This campground is one part marina, one part multi-faceted campground escape. While they do have a handful of spots for RV’s and trailers, in addition to renting a handful of cabins directly on the lake, I was delighted to discover that the real find here is the small island that sits directly across from the marina, where there are endless tent camping options. I would consider the experience fairly primitive over on the island, as there isn’t any running water or electric to speak of, but a short little canoe ride and you’re back in civilization (er, the marina).
I would highly recommend this spot for anyone looking to get away from it all – and don’t mind being a bit secluded. If you have your own canoe or kayak, great, but if not, fret not, the marina will loan you one if you’re staying with them, and if you’d like anything else to rent (house boat, sail boat, innertubes, paddle boards, etc.) they have it at the boat house.
Happy Camping!
GuideWe stayed in a 2 bedroom cabin for this trip. It was a great campground. It had a pool, camp activities, hiking/nature trail. It was extremely clean and the staff was friendly. It has a lake for fishing and water activities, a dog park. It is very close to things around Charleston. We will absolutely go back.
GuidePrior to arriving I was informed that I I was in a deluxe site which was in a quiet area facing the pond. Although there appeared to be many sites opened at the time of our arrival we were escorted to a site situated between a row of cabins , sandwiched between other campers. Although it was not water front as I was informed the site was functional-
Scout
I have stayed at here several times over the years. I’ve done primitive camping as well as staying in the cabins. I really enjoyed the multitude of options when it comes to outdoor activities. Kayaking, boating, paddle boarding, and fishing just to name a few. The facilities are well laid out and fortunately, at the times I went, it wasn’t too busy. They have a small store if you forget something. Overall great experience each time.
Ranger
Nice RV Site if you are visiting Charleston, South Carolina. The site is very hot due to no trees. Currently the restrooms and showers are down, so you need to have a self contained unit. However, very quiet. No pull thru sites. Must back in.
Guide
This is a great family campground, they have very well appointed RV sites, Tent sites and cabins that look like train Cabooses, and some others. but it is super nice and well taken care of. its close to 95 but you really don't notice that. people like this place because there were a lot of return visitors from way out of state. We had neighbors that snowbird in FL but they live in Manitoba, Canada and drive all the way over just to stay there on their way to FL.
Scout
Ok so the campground is awesome because it’s full of trees. I love that because it offers lots of shade and privacy. Also I felt so safe with my family. Also we saw so many people just walking their dogs, which we love dogs. It’s quiet. It’s great. Also it’s very kid friendly. They have an awesome park. Can’t wait to go back. Now I will say I would not recommend the cabins. They are not clean or updated. Which is a shame because they could be really cool. But this review is for the location where you have your RV.
Traveler
There are two sections to Edisto Beach State Park. The Ocean side campground is the best with the ocean breezes, but the marsh side campground is an easy bicycle ride from the beach.
It's South Carolina in the summer, so there are mosquitoes. And the raccoons are pretty fierce so you want to make sure your food is stored securely, so you don't wake up to critters eating your potato chips.
The restrooms and showers are clean.
Edisto Island is one of the least developed islands in South Carolina. There is a Piggly Wiggly grocery store to pick up all the things you may have forgotten. There is an ice cream shop and several restaurants, but it is pretty quiet. My favorite thing about staying at Edisto Beach State Park is bicycling to the beach, bicycling along the paths in the state park that lead to a shell mound, built by Native Americans around 2,000 B.C., and bicycling for beers at one of the little bars overlooking the ocean. Another plus is the park's proximity to Botany Bay.
LegendWe stopped for one night on our way north. We had a ok site. The two best sites are 52 and 16. This KOA had a nice clean pool, a big chess game, panning for gold, a playground, a lake, a neat old phone booth that is a lending library and the Mermaid Coffee bar and Cafe. They do wine and beer tastings or you can just buy a glass of either. The sell Hunts brothers Pizzas that were cooked in a pizza machine, they were great. They have a small store if you need some things. This KOA has some cabins that are nice looking, a few of them are old train caboose’s. Very nice place to visit. To top it off a beautiful sunset.
TravelerThis one one of the cutest, most well-maintained State Park Campgrounds we’ve been to. The groundskeeper Larry is the nicest man and was so welcoming from booking to departure. You can tell he takes pride in caring for his site. There’s a nice big field for the dogs to play in and we were able to rent kayaks from the outfitter across the creek to explore the Edisto River. There’s a good burger place 3 miles down the road (Lee’s) too. The cell and WiFi worked great for full time remote work and locationally Colleton is about 1 hour between Charleston, Savannah, and Congaree National Park. I think this is also the smallest state park in South Carolina.
TravelerWhen making reservations at James Island County Park we had modest expectations, but we were going to tour Charleston most of the time, so we decided anything close to the city would be good enough. The campground turned out to be very nice. We wished we had stayed there longer to enjoy not only Charleston, but the nature beauty of the park itself. The campground is located in a huge park with lots of amenities. The sites are spacious, covered with trees, full hookups with 50 amp service. There are a lot of shaded picturesque walking and bike trails in the park. The dog park was amazingly big, with a little doggy beach for water lovers. There is a big kids playground with a fun looking spray play fountain. It is located just 15 min drive from the campground to downtown Charleston. It is a great campground to stay when visiting Charleston. We have a video on our YouTube Channel- Summertime RV Rovers- about this park- Great Campgrounds in Coastal South Carolina: Charleston and Hilton Head Island. Please check for yourself. We camped at James Island County Park in a Motorhome.
RangerThis is a fantastic campground. The staff is friendly and helpful. The grounds are very well maintained. There are activities offered including a wagon ride through a plantation. There is a pool. They offer bike rental, along with kayak/paddle boat rentals. There’s a great dog park our pups loved. We paid a little extra for a deluxe site with full hookups and a lake view. The deluxe site also had a concrete pad, brick fire pit, and a swing. It was a shady spot with big oak trees. There is a nice camp store. The location of this campground is perfect near stores, restaurants, and not far from the beach.
GuideSo much to do— quiet and family friendly. Bike rentals, dog park, fishing pond, laundry, water park, etc. Large corner lot with plenty of shade. 20 mins from Folly Beach! Will be back!
GuideWonderful park with plenty of amenities! We stayed here in October when the water park/pool was closed, but there was still plenty to do with bike rentals and the outdoor adventure area.
Legend
Once you successfully navigate all of the backroads past Lake Marion and directly on the shores of Lake Moultrie, you’ll eventually find a small nook in the road where you’ll discover Johnston Landing, which is set off immediately by what looks to be a small bayou playing home to likely some grizzly gators(but truth be told, I never saw any while we were there). If you are coming to these parts, be sure to bring a floating vessel of any type– fishing boat, kayak, canoe or whatever will stay afloat– but if not, no worries, the good people here at Johnston Landing have you covered as they offer a paddle boat, kayaks and a row boat for rent. Insider’s tip? One of the best hikes in all of South Carolina– the Palmetto Trial is just about 5 miles away, but is definitely worth the hike as here you’ll be able to witness first hand the sunken giant Cypress trees, amazing bird watching(Ospreys and Herons in particular). As for amenities, this well-groomed campground offers up fairly new picnic tables, all the basic hook-ups(water, electric and sewage), BBQ/ grills and fairly clean restrooms and showers. Sportsman’s Bar& Grill just down the road is about the only thing decent within close proximity, otherwise, be prepared to cook whatever you plan on dining on for each meal.
Happy Camping!
Legend
Black’s Camp is in the heart of the Santee Cooper area of South Carolina and has been around for several decades. It’s not a destination for someone looking for the “camp in the woods” type person, but it is the destination for those wishing to go fishing and hunting. They are a “full service” fishing camp. They have a boat launch and a marina complete with a gas pump for your fishing boat. There is also a complete tackle shop and restaurant. The store was impressive and had a lot of gift items. When you walk into the store, you feel like it is truly a sportsman’s store.
With all that said, the campground is across the road and is part of the whole operation. There is also a motel, but that’s not what this review is about. As far as activities, there are no swimming pools, but when you camp here, you don’t camp here for swimming. As I stated before, it is a fishing destination, and there are also guide services for fishing and hunting if you want some help.
As far as the campground, the sites have all hookups. I didn’t ask about tent camping since we had our teardrop camper this time, but the sites are spacious. However, they are too close together for my comfort and very few trees. The bath house needs updating, but most of the campers probably use their own RV bath rooms since I didn’t see any tenters.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place, but the campground is mostly just a place to stay when you’re not fishing or hunting.
Scout
Fantastic hiking, well maintained (during normal services), and the primitive campsites are the best "get-away" opportunity.
Nature is abundant, both flaura and fauna. So bug spray is recommended to the unfortunate of us that are preyed upon by mosquitoes and the like. Also my dogs love it and it's a great energy burner for them.
GuideShort-stay is a beautiful camp right on Lake Moultrie a short distance from Charleston, SC. They have descent wifi and an pretty well stocked camp store, but the main attraction is huge Lake Moultrie. Great for fishing, swimming, camping, RV, and much more. There is a swimming beach and the camp store has boat kayak rental and propane tank refill. The sites on the lake have full hook-up and there is a dump station for those that do not.
TravelerI love this spot. Its right on the trail, it also allows for you to drive right up to the campground and park your car, set up camp and then head out for a hike. It has some spots closer to the parking area and others back away from it by a couple hundred feet. There used to be water available but that spicket is well past it "sell-by-date". The closest store is a 10-minute drive. Hiking is great. There are some areas where after rain it becomes "pools" of water making staying dry a bit difficult. The trail is being added to. At some point in the future, you can start at the ocean and walk across the state to the border of North Carolina and Georgia. The low country side is going to be flat walking with some minor up and over terrain. Hills don't show up until you get more west. Snakes are probably the worst thing you'll come across, however most want to get away from people unless they feel a need to defend. So, keep your eyes open, I've stumbled across a couple laying on the trail just trying to get sun and warm up. Once my presence was recognized they get away as fast as possible. Stay safe and keep your eyes and ears open.
LegendWe don’t typically stay at KOA’s but this one was convenient and had power so we could run the AC. Summer humidity is a killer! This park was well kept. A great 1.5 mile long nature trail. We didn’t see the resident alligator but glad to know there is one. Great smooth road for skateboarding.
Pool was open but limited to 6 people. No boat rentals, but bikes were still available. They are checking what state you’re from. If you’re from a state that is still on stay at home orders, they won’t be able to give you a reservation.
Would have given it 5 stars, but it’s hard to pay $75/night for camping...
RangerWe stayed here for a week in the summer and loved it. Our site was very close to the lake and we had a great view. We were also right beside the pool and playground area so it was convenient to walk over. The bathhouse area was clean. The park offered fishing, kayak/canoe/paddle boat and paddle board rentals. They also had a free wagon ride to a nearby plantation a couple of times a week. We actually missed it but would really like to take the time to do it if we ever get back. The lake had a little dock and we my husband and son fished off of it. There were alligators in the lake and they actually caught one.
Scout
I recently spent a week at Bells Marina& Resort, and I have to say it was an amazing experience. From the moment I arrived, the owners were incredibly welcoming and made me feel right at home.
The RV site itself was perfect. I had a great view of the water and was able to watch wildlife every day, from white herons to bald eagles. And the fishing was outstanding! I even caught a trophy-sized bass that made my week.
There was still plenty to do. I loved the community barbecue and pizza oven, and the giant Ring of Fire with the spectacular water fountain in the middle was a great place to socialize and meet new friends.
Overall, I had an incredible time at Bells Marina& Resort. It was the perfect getaway for me, and I can't wait to come back and do it all over again.
GuideThis is our first time to this state park. There are 2 separate campgrounds. One that is right on the beach with plenty of beach access and the other that is called Live Oak campground. This is the one we stayed at. The sites are all level with hard packed sand. They are rather small sites though. Deepen enough for a fifth wheel but not very wide. Your fifth wheel and your truck is all that will fit in most sites. Not a lot of extra room left for all your accessories. The tails are great and be sure to bring your bike. The only negative is the amount of Ticks that your dogs will pick up if you take them on the trails. Be prepared the are tiny little devils! The park is right off a busy highway so depending on the site you choose you will hear a lot of roadway noise. We were in site # 89. Next time I will chose one well away from the highway. All and all a beautiful place for a weekend getaway!
LegendShould you be driving an RV, hitched to a 5th Wheeler or hauling a trailer, whatever your mobile camping experience might be, there’s 116 campsite options to choose from here at James Island Co Park, which offers both pull-through & back-in sites (maximum 80 feet), which provide a great launching pad to explore more than 643 acres of pure outdoor bliss offering perhaps one of the most expansive list of amenities and attractions (see more below). Once you arrive here at this RV Campground from James Island Parkway, you’ll pass the Ranger Station and will circumnavigate the circle-like exterior of the park until you arrive to this very CG, turn right and check-in at the main office, which also serves as the CG marketplace.
This RV Campground is basically the expanse of 2 lateral football fields with an east and west side, dissected on the east side by 3 simple short lanes and a restroom / shower / laundry facility located right in the middle. Over on the west side, there’s a single loop that isn’t dissected at all, but has a second, narrower loop on its northern flank, where hereto, a central restroom / shower / laundry facility has been plotted right in the middle of this circuitous loop.
RV Campground Amenities include: FHUs with 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage, 24-hour staffing, activity center, super-clean, new bathhouses and restrooms, designated dump station, complimentary WiFi, campground marketplace, coin-operated laundr-O-mat, stand-up grills / BBQs, fire rings, picnic tables, propane-refueling station, trash / recyclable containers, cottages available to rent as well as ice + firewood for sale.
Situated just north of where your RV is anchored is the Outdoor Zone featuring a 50 foot climbing wall, obstacle challenge course, 1K sq ft bouldering wall and slackline that will have you and your brood enjoying these backwoods in no time. West of this Outdoor Zone is an 18-hole disc golf course and back towards the center of the park is a Splash Zone Waterpark complete with (2) 200 foot waterslides, 500 foot long lazy river, leisure pool & rainforest play structure, kid’s playground as well as a boat house with kayak, pedal boat and canoe rentals along with direct access to a small lake, round-trip shuttle service (to the nearby Convention& Visitor Bureau, Folly Beach Pier of Folly Beach County Park), Spray Play Waterpark, K9 park, crabbing & fishing dock, 16K acres of freshwater lakes, Santee Stage for live music and events, 4 individual group shelters and countless picnic tables in addition to 5+ miles of paved paths offering hiking / biking bliss.
Insider’s Tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are one of those RV campers that come towing a Jeep behind them or have somehow managed to transport a golf cart with you and find that the slot you’ve been given doesn’t adequately provide enough space for everything including your RV (let alone the additional transport you’ve brought) have no fear, as there’s substantial, additional parking that exists right in front of the Group Camping area, just due north of where you are stationed; (2) I found it hard to believe that with over 100 sites there was only 2 restroom / shower facilities and every time we tried to use the showers, there was a waiting line – so given this, timing is EVERYTHING as normally everyone is heading to get their showers first thing in the morning – so I highly recommend you either get up SUPER early or simply change your shower schedule to mid-afternoon or early evening; (3) In the event that you wanna try something other than what you’ve been whipping up from the confines of your on-board mini-fridge or roto-molded Cordova cooler, then nearby there’s mediocre fast food options like Zaxby’s or Bojangles, but if you’re OK to drive a smidge further, there’s a great joint called Bohemian Bull that’s one part restaurant / one part outdoor tavern of which I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes and bar-b-cuban sandwich; (4) Should you need to stock up on any supplies while here, there is the county park store over in the RV Campground, but for anything more substantial, just about 5 minutes south of this CG you’ll find a Walmart Supercenter; and (5) IMHO the best slots in this RV exclusive campground are those on the perimeter with the best sites being the ones without anything behind them, specifically on the NW periphery with sites #46 - 55; along the westernmost side with sites #20, #21, #23, #24 and #26.
Happy Camping!
Experience the charm of cabin camping near Johns Island, South Carolina, where nature meets comfort in a variety of scenic locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Johns Island, SC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Johns Island, SC is Campground at James Island County Park with a 4.6-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Johns Island, SC?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 cabin camping locations near Johns Island, SC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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